Heuchera plant named ‘Gojiberry’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Heuchera  plant named ‘Gojiberry’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; densely foliated and bushy appearance; reddish brown-colored leaves that with development become yellow orange in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Heuchera×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GOJIBERRY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Heuchera plant of Heuchera, botanically known as Heuchera×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Gojiberry’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Heuchera plants with attractive leaf colors with good garden performance.

The new Heuchera plant originated from a cross-pollination in April, 2010 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of Heuchera×hybrida ‘Crimson Curls’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,729, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Heuchera×hybrida identified as code number 083-09-C005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Heuchera plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in July, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Heuchera plant by tissue culture in controlled laboratory and greenhouse environments in Andijk, The Netherlands since March, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Heuchera plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Heuchera plant has not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gojiberry’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gojiberry’ as a new and distinct Heuchera plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Densely foliated and bushy appearance.     -   3. Reddish brown-colored leaves that with development become         yellow orange in color.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Crimson Curls’, in leaf color as plants of ‘Crimson Curls’ have dark purple brown and crimson-colored leaves. In addition, leaf margins of plants of the new Heuchera are not as undulate (curly) as leaf margins of ‘Crimson Curls’.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have greenish yellow-colored leaves. In addition, leaf margins of plants of the new Heuchera are not as undulate (curly) as leaf margins of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Heuchera can be compared to plants of the Heuchera×hybrida ‘Peach Flambe’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,195. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Heuchera differ primarily from plants of ‘Peach Flambe’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Heuchera are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Peach Flambe’.     -   2. Plants of the new Heuchera and ‘Peach Flambe’ differ in leaf         color as plants of ‘Peach Flambe’ have rust to burgundy-colored         leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearance of the new Heuchera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Heuchera plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Gojiberry’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Gojiberry’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Gojiberry’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in 17-com containers in an outdoor nursery in Wieringerwerf, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Heuchera production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Heuchera×hybrida ‘Gojiberry’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Heuchera×hybrida ‘Crimson Curls’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,729.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Heuchera×hybrida identified as code number 083-09-C005, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; basal rosette             plant habit with leaves developing from the base; densely             foliated and dense and bushy appearance; compact and             uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About             49.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 41 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—About 15 leaves per basal rosette;             leaves, simple.         -   Length.—About 7.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Overall, broadly ovate; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Base.—Hastate, lobes touching to moderately imbricate.         -   Margin.—Five to occasionally seven-lobed; crenate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent; pubescence more prominent             along veins.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Matte.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 176A and             178A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 187C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 22B; fading to             closer to 18A; venation, same as lamina color. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 22B and 23C             tinged with close to 39B and 39C; venation, close to 150D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 14.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 199B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single campanulate flowers             arranged on compound spikes; each spike with about 265             flowers; about 1,600 flowers develop per plant during the             flowering season; flowers face mostly outward to slightly             drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time of flowering.—Plants flower continuously from the late             spring into the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Individual flowers last about one             week on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 44.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to N155C; towards the             base, close to 158D and tinged with close to 62B.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 0.8 mm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Lighter than NN155D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Lighter than NN155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals in a single             whorl; fused at base. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About             1.5 mm. Shape: Roughly elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth. Texture             lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 155A; central band, close to 15A to 15B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155A; towards the             base, close to 155D; central band, close to 162D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; distally, close to             NN155B; central band, close to 15A to 15B. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155A; towards the base, close to             155D; central band, close to 162D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One subtending the             calyx. Length: Less than 1 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 183C tinged with close to             199B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, primary: About 43.9 cm. Length, lateral:             About 0.4 cm to 5.4 cm. Diameter, primary: About 3.5 mm.             Diameter, lateral: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect, primary: Mostly erect. Aspect, lateral: About 55°             from primary peduncles. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             183C; with development, tinged with close to 199B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 183D; distally,             close to 155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five per             flower. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape:             Deltoid. Anther color: Close to 24A. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 10B to 10C. Gynoecium:             Pistil number: Two per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm.             Stigma shape: Pointed. Stigma color: Close to N155D. Style             length: About 3.75 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Ovary             color: Close to 155A to 155B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Heuchera. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests has     not been observed on plants of the new Heuchera grown under     commercial conditions. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Heuchera have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate high temperatures about     35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Heuchera plant named ‘Gojiberry’ as illustrated and described. 